New Visions Blog

2013 ACE Award winning jewelry designer Alexis Bittar hosted a benefit this month for the Ali Forney Center for homeless GLBTQ Youth in NYC. Attendees included Barrier Free Living 25 Videos of Hope participant singer Mister Padilla, pictured at right with his fiance, writer Culver McCall (Stonewall to Obama), along with BFL Organizational Development Manager Scott Hess. The mission of the Ali Forney Center is "to protect lesbian… read more

Sally Hershberger Downton NYC Salon donated hair products to the residents and consumers at Barrier Free Living's (BFL) Transitional Housing and Secret Garden programs. BFL works with severely disabled homeless people and survivors of domestic violence with disabilities. Famed colorist Marko Tomassetti, who has donated color services to BFL, was on hand to deliver the products… read more

Profiled in the Feb. 2014 Princeton Alumni Weekly, Dr. B.J. Miller is a triple amputee who was injured by an electric current from a trolley car when he was in school at Princeton. Because of his accident and a team of incredible caregivers, he recovered and went into medicine. He is now the Executive Director of the Zen Hospice Project in California. View a video with Miller.… read more

CBS News reports: At last month's State of the Union Address Democrats and Republicans rose as one to salute a wounded warrior, Staff Sergeant First Class Cory Remsburg. View the video. Remsburg was nearly killed by a roadside bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan.… read more

Barrier Free Living is featured in the Feb. 12 Wall Street Journal article, Cuomo proposes flat pay for caretakers of disabled. The article focuses on the fact that the Cuomo administration has proposed keeping pay flat for the sixth straight year for caretakers of the disabled and others at state-funded nonprofits and it's impact on staff. Read the article.… read more

V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sex slavery. ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE is a global call to women survivors of violence and those who love them to… read more

International Women's Day 2014 Reports that: Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. The National Online Resource Center on Violence… read more

CAMBA's Atlantic House Men's Shelter is holding a housing fair on February 26th in two sessions, morning 9am – 11:30 am and afternoon 2 pm – 5 pm.at AHMS, Café  2402 Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11233 CAMBA notes: Housing providers can choose which session/s they would like to attend.  All clients in attendance will have HRA 2010E packages with a variety of approval levels. The clients are either employed, have SSI/SSD or public assistance. The majority of these clients are long term stayers who… read more

Board Resource Reports: Abuse of People with Disabilities: A Silent Epidemic is a public service video produced by the Board Resource Center (www.brcenter.org) to encourage people with disabilities to speak up about abuse. Molly Kennedy and Kecia Weller are well known peer advocates in California who are taking a stand to stop abuse. Please join them by sharing the video with your network. View the video.… read more

DISABLED IN ACTION (DIA) of Metropolitan New York meets Sunday, February 9, 2014 - 1:30-4:00  at Selis Manor, 1st Floor Auditorium, 135 West 23rd Street (bet. 6th and 7th Ave). DIA is a civil rights organization committed to ending discrimination against people with disabilities — all disabilities. DIA fights to eliminate the barriers that "prevent us from enjoying full equality in American society." Meeting topics include:  Consumer Directed Services in the NYS Budget &… read more

For the second consecutive year, the Assurant Foundation has awarded Barrier Free Living with a $10,000 New Growth Fund grant in support of the agency's work with severely disabled formerly homeless individuals. The Assurant Foundation, which funded BFL's purchase of a new stove to serve the 48 residents of the Transitional Housing program in 2013, awarded  a second grant to "further enhance the incredible work of Barrier Free Living."… read more

Barrier Free Living is participating on AmazonSmile, the shopping site where portions of purchases are donated to the buyer's charity choice. AmazonSmile is listed as: "A simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase… read more

Philadelphia state Rep. Brendan Boyle to introduce legislation to strengthen domestic-abuse laws in a state that tallied 141 domestic-violence deaths in 2012, according to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Read more here.… read more

Disability Scoop reports: Some of Broadway’s most iconic theaters are agreeing to make sweeping changes to improve accessibility for people with disabilities under a settlement with federal prosecutors. Nine Broadway theaters will eliminate more than 500 accessibility barriers in their restrooms, concession counters, waiting areas and box offices under a deal announced Wednesday to address violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Read the article.… read more

The first annual Soulful Closet Sale was held Jan. 23, with a portion of proceeds going to BFL’s  award winning Secret Garden program for people with disabilities who have experienced domestic violence. Event organizer Lori (Dame) Sutherland, pictured at right with Secret Garden Assistant Director Denise Baker (center) and Secret Garden Director Georgette Delinois (left) was thrilled to create the event featuring one of a kind sale items. Yael Yekutiel was… read more

New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports: Awareness months provide an opportunity to coordinate efforts that bring attention to specific issues. February is the time to get the word out about teen dating violence (TDV). The following are some resources that can help you with your efforts throughout February as well as all year long!  Visit the TDVAM website to learn about the issue and to check out resources and innovative ideas for engaging youth.  Campaigns and events… read more

Scott Hess, Organizational Development Manager and part of the HR/ODT Team at Barrier Free Living, has been accepted into the Columbia University Developing Leaders Program for Nonprofit Professionals, March 2014. "I'm excited to be part of the intensive program. As an agency, Barrier Free Living is in the midst of amazing growth and crucial change and this program allows me to reach higher as a part of the leadership team," said Hess. Hess… read more

Kessler Foundation sponsored a coat drive for BFL's Freedom House Emergency Shelter, donating warm coats to the families at the facility. Several hundred coats were received, said Occupational Therapy Coordinator Patricia Motus, who added that "It was amazing. Residents came and everyone found a coat that fit them perfectly. It looked like the coats were made for them." Freedom House is nationally recognized as the first fully accessible emergency shelter for disabled victims of domestic violence and their families. Kessler… read more

DeafHope is seeking entries for its 11th Annual Glimmer of Hope: Lavender Film Festival 2014 – Lights.. Camera.. ACTIVISM! The entry Deadline: February 10, 2014 at 12:00 Noon Pacific. Entry form here.… read more

CNN Reports:  On Veterans Day, former Army special ops officer Gary Linfoot took a brisk stroll around the Statue of Liberty. That's remarkable because Linfoot is a paraplegic -- injured while on one of his many tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He's been wheelchair-bound and paralyzed below the waist since 2008. But new technology has offered Linfoot the opportunity to walk again.It's possible because of a kind of wearable robot -- a full-body apparatus developed by California-based Ekso Bionics… read more

A Winter Wonder Land event, funded by Events by Secrets catering and the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) was held at BFL's Freedom House emergency shelter. Events by Secrets provided Freedom House families brunch, a  hot dog cart,  popcorn cart and gifts. Harlem Children Zone provided gifts,a  cookie decorating table and arts and craft for the children as well.… read more

The first annual Soulful Closet Sale will be held Jan. 23, with a portion of proceeds going to  BFL's  award winning Secret Garden program for people with disabilities who have experienced domestic violence. Lori (Dame) Sutherland, who organized the event says: "We will be selling prized outfits, shoes, accessories and jewelry – either brand new (with tags!), or gently worn (and are in beautiful condition). From Banana Republic to Laboutins, darlings!… read more

Christy Parque, Executive Director at Homeless Services United was interviewed live on the nationally syndicated show Aljazeera America about the next steps the new administration can take to begin addressing homelessness. You can view the interview here .… read more

DNAInfo New York  reports: A food truck fit for the Midtown lunch crowd has started feeding the homeless and hungry in the East Village. Soul Food Truck, a new initiative of Middle Collegiate Church on Second Avenue and East Seventh Street, serves savory free meals including fried chicken and collard greens to anyone who steps up to its window in Tompkins Square Park on Sunday afternoons. Read the story.… read more

NY1 reports about an award-winning new documentary exploring the challenges people with disabilities face in the work force, and the growing movement to get companies to employ them. The documentary "A Whole Lott More," which won the audience award at the Hot Docs Film Festival, is a rare look inside a factory in Toledo, Ohio called Lott Industries. It's unique because since 1956, it primarily employs people with disabilities. Read more.… read more